The Tucson Rodeo Parade, which gets underway Thursday, Feb. 25, is a community tradition that started in 1925. This year it is also a reunion for five generations descended from craftsman Adolfo Vasquez. He and his brother-in-law, Winnall Dalton, briefly owned and operated Dalton & Vasquez Wagon and Carriage Makers in the 1880s.
Laura Hall, a great-great-granddaughter of Adolfo Vasquez, tells their story:
The small yellow wagon that is entered in this year’s parade was originally commissioned to be built by Raul and Frank Vasquez for Amelia Vasquez (wife of Frank Vasquez) in 1954. It was made so she could decorate her backyard with flowers and for their grandchildren to play on when they visited.
In 1964, Frank and Amelia Vasquez entered the wagon for the first time into the parade. The yellow wagon carried six of their 24 grandchildren through the historic non-mechanized parade route.
Today, 52 years later, the family has grown to 126 members. Once again, the family is coming together — this time, five generations will take part, coming from all over the country, and as far away as Dubai — to ride and walk in this year’s parade.
A few of the youngest will ride in the wagon. About 60 other family members will be walking or riding in a large wagon directly behind with big posters showing the pictures of our great grandfather and grandfather.
By entering the “yellow wagon” into the Fiesta De Los Vaqueros parade, we are celebrating the love, strength, family unity and memory of our Great-Great Grandfather Adolfo Vasquez, Great-Grandfather Raul Vasquez and Grandfather Frank Vasquez. Our family unit consists of the following families: Vasquez, Morales, Martinez and Loebe.
